Page 94 of Breathtaking

I don’t even realize my phone has stopped ringing until Maddox’s hand cups my cheek, pulling me out of my state of shock. Or as far out of it as I can get. He holds the phone out for me to take, and I stare at it, unsure what to do. “It’s Atticus.”

Maddox’s voice is so soft... unnaturally soft.

I don’t like it.

It makes me feel broken.

Like he’s scared of hurting me.

And something about that forces me out of my shock long enough to take the phone from him. “Atticus... Is it true?”

“Shit, Lennon... I’m not sure how the news got out so fast. We wanted you to hear it from us first.”

I look up, and three sets of Beneventi eyes are all on me, but Maddox’s are the only ones who don’t shine back with pity.

“When did it happen? How?” My thoughts come out rapid-fire, bombarding me. “How is Rhys?”

“They think it was a heart attack. The butlers went to wake him this morning, and he was gone.” Atticus is uncharacteristically quiet for a moment, and my heart hurts for my brother. For my country. For me. To have lost such an important man. To have lost my grandfather, and to have lost him without ever reconciling... it all just hurts. “You know Rhys.”

I do. And that’s why I’m worried about him.

“You need to come home, Lennon.”

Atticus’s voice carries within the confines of the car, and there’s no doubt Maddox heard his order, whether he realizes that’s what it was or not. I look to him for support and hope he trusts me. “How quickly can the jet get to us?”

“It’s on its way there now. A full protection detail is on board.”

“Maria?” I ask, concern growing.

“Yes. She’s heading the team,” he tells me. “And it’s a full team, including officers dedicated to Maddox and Brennan for as long as you’re in country.”

“We’ll be there soon. Take care of Rhys, Atticus. And keep Papa out of his ear.” God, this is not happening. Not now.

“I’m sorry, Lennon...” he says quietly.

“Me too, brother. Me too.”

* * *

Maddox’s hand runs down the length of my back as I fold the last of Brennan’s clothes and sort them into his suitcase. “Are you sure about this?”

“I’m sureI wishwe didn’t have to go.” I turn in his arms and rest my head on his chest. “But I’m also sure we have to go. I need to be there for my brothers and my country. I’d feel better if we had someone with us to help with Brennan though. You have no idea how many things go into the funeral of a monarch. When my mother died, I felt like we didn’t sleep for a week, and she was heir to the throne. She wasn’t the king.”

“My parents should be here soon. They’re coming with us.”

I’m not sure anything he could have said could have surprised me more.

“What? Why?” I have no words. None that make sense. None that don’t sound awful. “I thought we agreed not to ask them to help.”

“I didn’t have to ask. They offered. They knew we’d need help with everything you’re going to be dealing with, and they knew I’d want to be at your side. They also knew there isn’t anyone else in the world I’d trust with our son outside of our family. This might be your world,principessa, but it’s not mine, and I’ll feel better if my parents are with Brennan when we can’t be.”

I wrap my arms around his waist and suck in a breath. “Your family constantly amazes me.”

“They’re your family now too.” He rests his chin on my head, and I blow out a shaky breath, having never known what it felt like to have parents who would drop everything in their world to prioritize you. “Do we need to pack anything else?”

“I need a separate garment bag for your black suit and my black dress. We’ll have to change on the flight.” I step out of his hold and straighten my spine. “And I need to grab my mother’s pearls.”

“Won’t it be the dead of night by the time we land? Who’s going to care whether we’re wearing fancy black clothes or not?”

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